The MOVE Project

The Building Blocks of MOVEs

The Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Toronto and its teaching hospitals have been focused on meeting challenges related to quality improvement in geriatric care. Early mobilization in hospital was identified as a key challenge that could be addressed by knowledge translation (KT) initiatives. Through collaboration between investigators interested in geriatric medicine, MOVE iT (Mobilization of Vulnerable Elders in Toronto), a project focused on the implementation of an innovative, scalable strategy to promote early mobilization and prevent functional decline, was conceptualized.

In November 2011, the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario’s (CAHO) Adopting Research to Improve Care (ARTIC) Program funded an expansion of MOVE iT to hospitals across Ontario. This iteration of the project was called MOVE ON (Mobilization of Vulnerable Elders in Ontario). With the addition of the CAHO ARTIC funding, MOVE iT was amalgamated with MOVE ON as one initiative. In 2011-2012, the MOVE ON project was implemented in 14 hospitals across Ontario.

Funded by ARTIC Spread and Scale, MOVE iT/ MOVE ON was expanded on to an additional 15 units in seven of the 14 MOVE ON hospitals

In January 2015, the MOVE initiative was implemented in 5 hospitals across Alberta

Based on the positive responses received from the project unit sites to date, this project has been expanded further to additional hospital units globally. The goal of MOVE remains consistent with the overall goal of MOVE iT/ON, which is to implement and evaluate the impact of an evidence-based strategy to promote early mobilization and prevent functional decline in older patients admitted to acute care facilities.

Key Messages for MOVEs Intervention

Encourage mobilization at least three times a day

Mobilization should be progressive and scaled

Mobility assessments should be implemented within 24 hours from admission on the unit